Domestic appliance



March 27, 1956 c, F, ABRESCH 2,739,469

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 25, 1950 S INVENTfi. Mari flu March 27, 1956 c. F. ABRESCH DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1950 March 1956 c. F. ABRESCH DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 25, 1950 March 1956 c. F. ABRESCH DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 25, 1950 STARTER FIG.9

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w w F United States Patent '0 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Carel F. Abresch, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 23, 1950, Serial No. 202,473

Claims. (CI. 68-21) This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications S. N. 34,038, now abandoned, S. N. 79,226 now Patent No. 2,664,050, dated December 29, 1953, S. N. 118,316 and S. N. 126,159. Serial No. 118,318 issued as Patent 2,587,080 on February 26, 1952, now Patent No. 2,639,600, dated May 26, 1953.

This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to washing machines having a single rotatable container in which washing takes place by agitating the clothes in the washing liquid and extraction is performed by evacuation of liquid from this container.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple elfective agitating arrangement in a rotatable type washing container which produces excellent cleansing without tangling of the clothes.

it is another object of my invention to provide an efficient agitating means for a washing container which rotates on a diagonalaxis.

it is another object of my invention to provide an improved draining arrangement for a washing container which rotates on a diagonal axis.

It is another object of my invention to provide a combined agitating and draining arrangement for a washing container which rotates on a diagonal axis.

It is another object of my invention to provide a washing system in which the filling and agitation are accomplished by rotating the washing container and pump in one direction while extraction of liquid from the container and the clothes is accomplished by rotating the washing container and the pump in the opposite direction.

These objects are attained by providing a generally spherical container having a flexible elastic wall portion forming one side of the container. is rotated upon an axis of about 45. A combined agitator and catch basin is provided in a position so that in one position of location, it is in the lowermost position within the container. The catch basin during extraction catches the washing fluid which is conducted from the lowest point of the sphere in this one position through an external tube and the hollow lower bearing to the mechanical pump which forces the extracted washing fluid into the drain pipe. The mechanical pump is operated in the reverse direction for pumping the washing fluid into the container. The container is provided with a vent normally closed by a check valve. It is also provided with an access opening which is in its uppermost position when the agitator is in its uppermost position.

The agitator includes a blade projecting inwardly from the outer wall about one-half the radius of the sphere. The blade is divided into two sections. The section furthest from the axis of the sphere has its inwardly projecting edge extending in an are having a radius slightly greater than the radius of the spherical container. This portion provides the machines with eflicient The container 2,739,469 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 agitation of the liquid in the container during rotation. The second portion of the blade is in the form of a cord of the sphere. This portion prevents tangling of the clothes and supplements the agitation provided by the other half of the blade. When the pump is reversed for extraction, the flexible elastic wall is drawn into contact and squeezes the clothes to assist in the extraction of washing fluid and moisture from clothes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly diagrammatic illustrating one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly diagrammatic of the washing container shown in Fig. 1 after being rotated This section is taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the washing and extracting container shown in Fig. 1 after being rotated 270 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing Fig. 1; and

Fig. 10 is a chart showing the energized and deenergized times of the different circuits in the wiring diagram during a washing cycle.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a substantially spherical washing container 20 formed of a substantially hemispherical sheet metal portion 22 and a substantially hemispherical flexible elastic rubber diaphragm member 24. This diaphragm member 24 has a flange 26 which is clamped between the flange of the hemispherical portion 22 and the flange of a perforated substantially hemispherical sheet metal portion 28 which limits the outward movement of the diaphragm member 24. Upon a diagonal axis of about 45, the perforated hemispherical sheet metal portion 28 is slightly elongated and is provided with an upper stub shaft 30 rotatably mounted in the upper bearing 32 and a lower hollow shaft 34 rotatably mounted in a lower bearing 36.

In the uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, the container 20 is provided with a door 38 having a sealing gasket 40 of some suitable rubber-like sealing material. This door 38 is connected by a universal floating connection 39 to a pivoted arm 42 which is pivotally connected to the bracket 44 attached to the member 22. The lever 42 carries a pivoted latch 46 which, in the closed position, is engaged by the pivoted latch lever 48 pivotally connected to the member 22 to hold the door 38 in the closed position so as to seal the container 20.

The lower end of the hollow shaft v34 is provided with a rotatable fitting 50 connected by flexible rubber tubing 52 to one fluid connection 54 of the mechanical pump 56. This mechanical pump 56 may be of any suitable .type of reversible mechanical pump which will pump fluid fluid connection 58 of the pump 56 has one branch 60 connected to the bottom of a vertical tubular well 62 having a downwardly opening check valve 64 at its lower end. This well is adapted to be filled with water from the discharge outlet 66 located immediately above it. This discharge outlet 66 is provided with hot and cold water from the hot water pipe 68 and the cold water supply pipe 70. The discharge conduit 72 forms the second branch connected to the fluid connection 58.

The rotor shaft 74 of the pump 56 is driven directly by the shaft of the electric driving motor 76. The driving motor 76 is shown diagrammatically connected through the belt 78 with a relatively large pulley 8t) mounted upon the hollow shaft 34 directly beneath the bearing member 36. The speed reduction between the motor 76 and the shaft 34 is sufficient to rotate the spherical container at about 60 revolutions per minute or one revolution per second. Since the motor 76 is directly connected to the pump 56 and to the container 20, the pump will operate whenever the container 20 is rotated and vice versa. No clutches are needed.

Within the spherical container, there is provided a combined agitator and catch basin member 82 which may be of metal or some suitable thermosetting plastic. This member is in the shape of a portion of a sphere with a rim 84 which curls outwardly into contact with the member 22. Extending diametrically across the member 82 is an inwardly projecting agitator blade 36. The right half of this blade, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8 has an inwardly projecting edge in the form of an are having a radius slightly greater than the radius of the hemispherical member 22. The remainder of the blade 86 has a straight inwardly projecting edge and constitutes a true chord of the member 82. The straight edge is joined to the arcuate edge by a reverse curve as shown in Fig. 8. The agitator blade 86 is located at an angle of to the axis of rotation.

By providing the L-shaped rib 88 upon the opposite side of the member 82 from the blade 86, there is formed a catch basin which is best shown in Fig. 3 which will catch and conduct the washing liquid during extraction to the inlet and outlet connection 90. The fluid connection 90 is connected by an external rubber tube connection 123 with the hollow shaft 34 upon the side of the bearing 36 opposite the pulley 88. As will be apparent from Fig. 2, the outlet connection 90 will rotate in an orbit which will bring it once each revolution to the lowermost portion of the container 20. By this arrangement, the liquid is readily and efl'iciently removed during the extracting operation. The agitator member 82 is provided with centrally located perforations 92 which provide a direct connection with the inlet and outlet connection 99 to permit washing liquid to be fed into and withdrawn from the spherical container 20. The agitator member 82 is also provided with notches 94 upon its rim to prevent water from being trapped beneath it. This member 82 is also provided with a small stiffening rib 96 which is transverse to the agitator blade 86.

The spherical container 20 is filled about up to its midpoint with washing fluid for washing purposes. The clothes in the liquid are agitated by the agitation of the liquid caused by the movement of the blade 86 at an angle of about 45 through the Washing liquid. By this movement the clothes are efiiciently washed by being agitated in and along with the liquid in which they are immersed. The particular angularity of the blade and its peculiar shape cause any clothes which may be caught by the blade to be lifted up and then slide off the straight and reverse curved edge portion of the blade 86 without tangling somewhere between the position shown in Fig. 4 and the position shown in Fig. 1. Due to the diagonal axis of rotation which should be preferably between 40 and and the particular speed of rotation, the clothes are not carried up the smooth sides of the spherical container 20. By this particular arrangement, a particularly eflicient form of agitation is obtained without tangling of the clothes. The spherical container 20' is provided with a -fluid outlet connection 98 which is normally closed by an outwardly opening check valve 121.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 9, there is shown reversible electric motor 76 provided with a main winding having one terminal connecting to the supply conductor 127. The motor 76 is also provided with a phase winding 129 having one terminal connecting with a centrifugal started switch 131. The starter switch 131 is connected by the conductor 133 to a stationary contact 4 in the rotatable cam operated switch mechanism 5.37 which is driven by the timing motor 1.39. The second terminal of the phase winding 129 is connected by the conductor 139 with the stationary contacts 2 and 3. The conductor 133 is also connected by the branch conductor to the stationary contact 1. A double throw contact M9 is connected by the conductor 151 to the switch contact 153 which is adapted to be closed to connect with the conductors 155 and 157 to connect with the supply conductor 127. A second double throw contact 159 is provided. This contact 159 and the contact 1 -39 are coordinated in their operation so as to constitute a reversing switch for the phase winding 129. That is, their operation is coordinated by the cams so that when the contact 149 is in the lowermost position, the contact 159 is likewise in its lowermost position and causes the operation of the motor 76 in one direction of rotation. When the contact 149 is moved upwardly to contact the contact 2, the contact 159 is likewise moved to its uppermost position to contact the contact 4 to cause the motor 76 to rotate in the opposite direction. The contact 159 is connected by the conductor 161 to a manually operable on-off-push-pull switch 163 operated by the manipulating member 165. This on-off switch 163 is connected by the conductor 167 to the second terminal of the supply source. The conductor 161 is connected to a switch mechanism 8 which is operated by cams driven by the timer motor 139. This switch mechanism 8 is also connected by the conductor 171 to a switch mechanism 173 which connects to the conductor 175 connecting with the second terminal of the main winding 125.

The conductor 161 is also connected by the cam operated contact 7 with the conductor 179 which connects to the index solenoid 181. This index solenoid 181 is connected by the conductor 183 to the lid operated switch 185 which connects with the conductor 157.

The water measuring system is of the general type shown in the Clark Patent 2,366,236. The conductor 161 is also connected to a double throw contact 187 which is adapted to connect either of the stationary contacts 5 or 6. The contact 6 is connected by the conductor 193 to the conductor 195 which connects to the cold water solenoid valve 197. The stationary contact 5 is connected by the conductor 199 to a manually operable selector switch 320 which is movable to the full line position shown in Fig. 9 to provide a warm water filling of the container 26 and movable to the dotted line position to provide a hot water filling of the container 2. In the full line position, the selector switch 320 connects with the conductor 195 to energize the cold water solenoid 197 while in its dotted line position, the selector switch connects with the conductor 322 which in turn connects with the hot water solenoid valve 324. The adjacent terminals of the hot and cold solenoid valves 324 and 197 are connected by the conductor 326 to the lid switch 185. The timing motor 139 operates the contact 149, 159, 187, 7 and 8 to the closed and open positions shown in the chart of the Fig. 10. In Fig. 10, the closed positions are shown by the solid black line and the open positions are shown by white spaces.

As shown by this chart, it is assumed that the selector switch 326 is moved to the dotted line position to provide a desired hot water initial filling of the container 20. Prior to the starting of the machine, the container 20 should be partially filled with clothes to be washed and with a suitable amount of soap or synthetic detergent. To start the machine, the manipulator 165 is pushed in to close the contacts 163. The contact 149 will be in engagement with the contact 1 and the contact 159 will be in engagement with the contact 3 and the contact 187 will be in engagement with the contact 5. The contacts 7 and 8 will likewise be closed. This will cause hot water to be delivered from the spout 66 to the well 62 and at the same time the motor 76 will operate to rotate the spherical container 20 and to drive the pump 76 to pump the hot water from the well 62 through the passage 60 and the fluid connection 58 through the pump 56 to the connections 52 and 54, through the fitting 50 and'the zlaaft 34 and the connections 123 and 90 into the container The rotation of the spherical container 20 will, by movement of the agitator blade through the pool of washing liquid, agitate the liquid so that the clothes will be thoroughly cleansed by the time the motor is stopped and reversed as shown by the chart. The reversing of the motor reverses the pump 56 to evacuate the washing fluid from the container 20 with the assistance of the catch basin formed by the rib 88 and the remainder of the agitator member 82 in conjunction with the rotation of the container 20.

Subsequently, the motor is again stopped and operated in the forward direction to pump cold or warm rinse water into the spherical container 20 as it is being rotated. This rotation continues sufliciently long to rinse the clothes by agitating the clothes in the rinse water after which the motor is stopped and reversed to reverse the pump to pump out and extract the rinse water as it is being rotated. During each extraction, the diaphragm 24 moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the approximate position shown in Fig. 5 to apply pressure upon the clothes to assist in the extraction of the washing fluids or rinse fluid from the clothes and from the container 20.

A second similar rinse and a third similar extraction follows. Following the third extraction, the motor 76 is stopped and driven in the forward direction a short time without any supply of water to pump air into the container 20 to break the vacuum within the container 20 so that the lid 38 may be opened and the clothes removed.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A washing machine including a generally spherical clothes washing container adapted to contain a washing fluid, means for rotatably mounting said container upon an inclined axis, an inwardly extending projection extending substantially as a chord within and fixed to the container preponderantly adjacent the lower end of said inclined axis, and means for rotating said container upon the inclined axis for agitating the washing fluid and clothes therein.

2. A washing machine including a generally spherical clothes washing container adapted to contain a washing fluid, means for rotatably mounting said container upon an inclined axis, an inwardly extending projection within the container preponderantly adjacent the lower end of said inclined axis, said projection extending at an acute angle to said axis substantially as a chord within and fixed to said spherical container, the half of the projection farthest from the lower end of the inclined axis being provided with a hump, and means for rotating said container upon the inclinedaxis for agitating the washing fluid and the clothes therein.

3. A washing machine including a generally spherical clothes washing container adapted to contain a washing fluid, means for rotatably mounting said container upon an axis, conduit means extending to and having a mouth at the lowest point of said container-and an agitator means mounted within said container over the mouth of 6 the adjacent end of said conduit means with the container, said agitator means being provided with a catch basin' communicating with said conduit means for guiding liquid to said conduit means.

4. A washing machine including a clothes washing container adapted to contain a fluid, a rotatable mounting for said container, a reversible pump having a conduit connection with the interior of said container,- conduit means for delivering water to said pump, conduit means for discharging fluid from said pump, and a common reversible drive means for rotating said container and driving said pump to deliver water into the container and to agitate the fluid in the container in one direction of rotation and to pump fluid out of the container in the opposite direction of rotation while the container rotates in the opposite direction.

5. A washing machine including a clothes washing container adapted to contain a fluid, a rotatable mounting for said container, a reversible pump having a conduit connection with the interior of said container, conduit means for delivering water to said pump, conduit means for discharging fluid from said pump, and a common reversible drive means for rotating said container and driving said pump to deliver water into the container and to agitate the fluid in the container in one direction of rotation and to pump fluid out of the container in the opposite direction of rotation while the container rotates in the opposite direction, said container including a flexible wall for squeezing the clothes when fluid is pumped out of the container.

6. In combination: a casing; oblique bearings for rotatably mounting said casing upon an oblique axis, a drain passing through one of said bearings and open to said casing on one side of said axis; said casing having a flexible wall portion on the side opposite said drain; an opening and cover for the introduction of clothes into said casing; a conduit to introduce water into said casing passing through one of said bearings; a reversible pump connected to said drain; and a reversible motor drivingly connected to said pump and casing reversibly to drive said pump and casing.

7. In combination: a casing; oblique bearings at opposite faces of said casing for rotatably mounting said casing upon an oblique axis; a drain passing through one of said bearings and open to said casing on one side of said axis; said casing having a flexible wall portion on the side opposite said drain; an opening and cover for the introduction of clothes into said casing; a conduit to introduce water into said casing passing through one of said bearings; a pump connected to said drain; driving means connected to said casing; and a motor connected to said pump and driving means, said pump and motor being reversible, said motor reversibly rotating said pump and casing when said motor is reversed.

8. A washing machine including a generally spherical clothes washing container adapted to contain a washing fluid, means for rotatably mounting said container upon an axis, said container being provided with an aperture adjacent its lowest point in one position eccentric to said axis, external conduit means connecting with said aperture, and a cover within said container extending over and communicating directly with said aperture provided with confining walls extending between the container and said cover around the aperture closed and impervious on the trailing side and being open on the leading side for guiding liquid within the container to said aperture.

9. A washing machine including a casing adapted to contain clothes to be washed, a standpipe, means for discharging washing liquid into said standpipe, a pump having an inlet connected to the bottom portion of said standpipe and its outlet connected to a lower portion of said casing, control means for opening said discharging means and operating said pump to pump the washing liquid into said casing, said control means including means for closing :said discharging means and continuing operation'of said ,pump to pump air into said casing.

10. A washing machine including an enclosed casing adapted to contain. clothes to be washed, a standpipe having a downwardly opening check valve, means for discharging washing liquid into said standpipe, a drain connection, a reversible pump having an alternate inlet out let connection connecting both to the bottom of said standpipe and to the drain connection and having an alternate inlet connection connecting to the interior of said enclosed casing, said casing being provided with an outwardly opening check valve, control means for opening said discharge means and operating said pump in one direction to pump the washing liquidinto the casing, said control means including means for closing said discharging means and operating said pump until air is pumped into said casing, said control means also including means for reversing said pump to pump the washing liquid from .said casing to said drain connection.

References Cited-in'the-file'of this patent UNI EED STATES PATENTS Atwood Aug. 10, Barrett Sept. 15, Robe July 28, Oelrnann July 10, Bassett Dec. 17, Cliayie Dec. 9, Breckenridge Sept. 22, Rand June 7, Oliver Dec. 26, Abr'esch Feb. 26,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 6, 

